Battery-jar.



W. L. WALKER.

BATTERY JAR.

APPLICATlON FILED MAY 8. l9l5.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1: a E l3 W. L. WALKER.

BATTERY JAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 19:5.

LJLWQW. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

W. L. WALKER.

BATTERY JAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1915.

w w L. 3 m M M P 1:. Mar/altar W. L. WALKER.

BATTERY JAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. I915.

Patented Aug. 31', 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

W. L. WALKER.

BATTERY JAR.

APPLICATlON men MAY 8, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

wmL. Mliiw;

Rm 1 OJ 1 L 00 av u A d a t n e t a P MUM WILLIAM L. WALKER, OF NEWLONDON, CONNECTICUT.

BATTERY-JAR.

and more particularly to the construction of the jars of the same.

The temperature of storage batteries, when charged, rises due to thegeneration of heat during the process of charging, with the result thatthe batteries are often ruined, and it oftenbecomes necessary tointerrupt the process of charging to prevent the cell from becomingexcessively hot, and especially is this true where a large number orseries of jars are used, the jars being-packed closely together and nomeans being proyided for carrying of]? the heat generated. i It is anobject of this invention to overcome these difficulties by providing abattery jar with improved means for the circulation of air whereby thears are thoroughly ventilated, and the heat is dissipated into thesurrounding atmosphere. This result is accomplished by providing anouter metal jar,

which is preferably of acid-resisting metal and within which an innerjar of a suitable nonconducting materialis placed, with cor-- rugatedsides whereby air passages are provided between the inner jar and theouter metal jar of the same cell, and between abutting outer jars ofdifferent cells when the cells are placed in a battery tank, or thelike.

Another object of the invention is to provide the outer corrugated metaljar with means for strengthening the same'whereby the jar may possesscomparative lightness, and at the same time resist any strain ex-' ertedupon it.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide means in the bottom ofthe outer metal jar whereby any inequalities therein, or anyinequalities in the bottom of the rubber jar,

are allowed for so that the rubber jar may rest evenly thereon. Thismeans also serves the purpose of absorbing any shock to which thebattery may be subjected whereby breakage of the inner nonconducting aris prevented.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 8, 1915.

Serial N0. 26,747.

- Patented Aug. 311, rate.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means whereby theindividual cells may be easily removed from a battery tank, or the like.

The above and other objects of this invn Figure 1 is a top plan view ofa number of battery jarsconstructed in accordance with my invention, thebattery jars being shown as'situated within a battery tank. Fig. 2 isatop plan vie'wof a modified form of my improved metal jar. Fig. 3 is atop plan view of another embodiment of the same. Fig. 4 is a top planview of two-battery jars situated within a battery tank, the jars beingprovided with my improved means for reinforcing the same. Fig. 5 is avertical sectional view of the metal jar shown in Fig. 4, and taken online 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through one ofthe walls of my improved metal jar showingmodified forms ofreinforcement. 'Fi-g. 7 is I a top plan view of a portion of ametal arhaving another modified form of reinforcement. Fig. 8 is a perspectiveview of a. portion of the reinforcing members shown in Fig.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of my improved metal jan showing modifiedmeans for reinforcing the same and showingthe jar provided withprojections in its bottom; Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the lowerportlon of the jar-shown in Fig.9, a rubber jar being disclosed withinthe metal'jar with partsof the former broken away. Fig. 11 is an mteriorperspective view of aportion of my.

improved metal jar showing a slightly different form of reinforcementfrom that disclosed in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a top plan view of a cornerof the metal jar showing a further modified form of reinforcement. Figs.13 and 1 4 are vertical sectional views through the projections in thebottom of the metal jar showing the projections provided with modifiedcushioning means. Fig. 15 is a top plan view of a series of jars similarto those disclosed in Fig. 4, spacing members being shown. between thejars of adjacent cells. Fig) 16- is a top-plan view of a series of jarsprovided with means for connecting the air channels of the adjacentcells, parts being broken away. Figz. 17 is a sectional view'ta'ken'online 171 18 is a partial sectional view takenon line 1818 ofFig. 16.Fig. 19 is an elevational view of one of the blocks for connecting theair channels of adjacent cells. .Fig. 20 is a bottom plan view of twoopposing blocks secured together. Fig. 21 is a perspective 'viewof oneof the blocks looking on the opposite side to that of Fig.

.gInthe drawings, wherein hke numerals represent like parts, andreferring more particularly to Fig. '1, 10 designates a portion orcorner of a battery tank within which are placed my improved batteryjars. The battery tank 10 is preferably provided with spaced-apartinternal. vertical grooves or channels 11 which extend throughout theheight of the same. .The' battery jars comprise an inner jar 12 of anysuitable insulating material, such. as vulcanized rubber,

. partially vulcanized rubber; or the like, and an outer jar 13 composedof material possessing the requisite mechanical strength.

The outer jar 13 is preferably" constructed of a metal having therequisite acid resist- .'ingproperties, a composition of antimonytherebetween.

so -outer metal jar a plurality of vertical inter-' and lead beingadmirably adapted for this 'purpose Suitable battery plates and an I 80.

electrolyte or acid, generally sulfuric, are adapted to-be placedwithinv the inner rubberjar 1-2. The metal jar 13is'prov1ded tostrengthen, the inner. rubber jar and to prevent the escape of theelectrolyte into the battery tank, should the rubber jar crack or break.The sides of the metal jar 13 are corriigated, so as to provide externalvertical ribs l l and vertical external channels 15- between the ribs.Theexternal ribs of one metal jar when placed in a battery tank areadapted to abut against corresponding ribs of the outer jar of anadjacent cell, or

i against the ribs of the-tank 10, as the case may be, with the,channels 15 of the adjacent outer jarsregistering whereby enlarged airpassages are provided between the'a jacent cells to allow forthelcirculation of air Also by. corrugating the nal ribs 16 extendingthroughout the height of the jar are provided which reinforce or supportthe sides of the inner jar 12 containedwithin the metal jar, channels orpassages 17 being provided between the ribs 16, whereby air maycirculate. between the .inner surface offithe metal jar and the outersurface of the rubber-jar. By 'this construc-' tion, I obtain two setsof ventilating spaces,

' I outer and inner jars of- .th'ef-same -cell; and,. thereby, when heatis generated during, theone set being provided between Ioutenjars ofadjacent calls, and the other, betweenthe charging of the cell, the circulation ofair in these 'ventilatmg'spaces quickly "conducts thesameaway from the 'cells .:f The external.

of Fig. 16. Fig."

ribs 14 of one outer jar are adapted to abut against thecorrespondingribs of the adja-' cent outer jar, and, therefore, one.metal jar tends to reinforce the abutting one. The construction of mycorrugated jars permits of the individual cells being easily removedfrom a battery because only halfthe area of the walls of the jars touchthe walls'of adjacent cells and therefore the friction is greatlyreduced.

In Fig. 1 the "ertical ribs 14 are disclosed I to considerablepressure,- it is desirable to reinforce or stay the same, so that thejars retain their shape, and the bulging of the jars and the tendency ofthe corrugations to flatten'out are prevented.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I disclose improved means for reinforcing my metalcorrugated .atively thin, and as'the same are subjected I jar. The jar13 is provided with a plurality of strips 18 passing horizontally aboutthe inside of the jar in suitable vertically spaced-apart relation, oneof said strips bemg shown at thetop of the jar, asecond at the bottom,and a third intermediate the top andbottom, but, of course, any numberof strips may be used. The strips. 18 are composed of any suitableacid-resisting material, preferably a composition of antimony and leadbeing used, which are burned, riveted or otherwise'atta'ched to the jar,and

it is also desirablethatthese strips be countersunk into the walls ofthe ribs 16 of the 'metal jar whereby the outer surfaces of the rubberjars may bear evenly against the in- I ternal ribs 16substantiall'ythroughout their height. By this construction, in additionto reinforcing the metal jars, the strips 18 support the rubber jars inthe channels and prevent'the bulgin of the same into the channels,while, at t e same time, the strips do not interfere with ventilation.About the exterior walls of the jar 13 is a strip of metal 19 extendingthroughout the height of the jar. i The outer strip 19 may be of anysuitable material, and while it is preferable I to form thesame of acomposition of antimony and lead, or other acid-resisting metal this isnot necessary, for should a rubber jar leak, the electrolyte containedwithin the .cell would not come into contact with the reinforcing strip19f jTTheIstrips' 18 and 19'may be burned to the jar 13, or they may beriveted thereon, preferably rivets of antimony being used, the rivetsbeing secured through the strips and subsequently a hot flame andadditional antimony being applied thereto to form an acid-tight joint.If desired, the outer strip 19 may be made in the form of a sleeve andslipped over the jar 13 without being secured thereto. The strips 18 and19 may be of relatively thin material, and preferably the grain of thestrips is at right angles to the grain of the metal jar 13, it beingdesired that the grain of the latter run vertically, or in the directionof the height of the jar, and the grain of the strips 18 and 19 runhorizontally about the j ar.- By this construction, a jar of enormousstrength is provided, and at the same time the same is comparativelylight,- and, of-course, the reinforcements will not materially interferewith the ventilation of the jars. Itis obvious that the metal strip 19need not extend throughout the entire height of the jar, and the samemay be substituted with a plurality of strips 20, which extend about thejar and are spaced from one another in a manner similar to the strips 18as above described. As shown in Fig. 6, a perforated, continuousreinforcing strip or sheet 18' may be substituted for the inner strips18 shown in- Fig. 5. The jar 12 would bear evenly on the perforatedsheet 18 and the perforations would give the necessary ventilation.

Referringt-o Figs. 7' and 8, the reinforcing members comprise anglebraces 21 which are U-shaped in cross-section and are pref-- erably madeof cast material, the castings being of a width and depth correspondingto the channels 15 and 17 and having their vertical edges or sidesbeveled as at 22 to permit the ready burning of the same to the sides ofthe jar. y

In Fig. 9, the reinforcing members comprise angle braces 23 which areriveted, cast or run into the corners or angles of the air channels onthe interior or exterior surfaces of the metaljar, or on both asdesired. These angle pieces may extend as shown in Fig. 10, the entireheight of the jar, or as disclosed in Fig. 11, they may comprise smallbraces 2i disposed in suitable spaced-apart relation in the corners ofthe air channels.

In Fig. 12, the reinforcing members comprise curved braces 25 which areburned or otherwise secured adjacent the corners of the ribs and areconnected at their central portions to the ribs.

To aid ventilation, means are provided whereby the internal air channels17 intercommunicate, and as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, this meanscomprises horizontal grooves 26 extending across the faces of theinternal tttt ribs 16. To further facilitate ventilation and insurethorough circulation of air between the inner jar 12 and the outerjars13, the outer jars 13 are provided in their bottoms with a pluralityof projections 27 which support the inner rubber ar, the spaces 28between the projections serving as passages whereby the channels 17intercommunicate.

Furthermore, should the jar leak, the electrolytewill fill the channels1? equally as the passages 28 serve as sluice-ways for the electrolyte.To further facilitate the ventilation of batteries in submarines,vehicles,

mining locomotives and car lighting equip.-.

any suitable expansible, or elastic'material,-

such as rubber are provided upon the projections. These cushions 29serve the further purpose of absorbing any shock to which the rubber jarmay be subjected due to the vibration or jarring of the vehicle orvessel upon which the battery is placed. The cushion 29 may have theform disclosed in Figs. 9 and 10 wherein they are shown as circular andas havinga spherical projection 30 seating or engaging in a concave orspherical recess in the projections 27. The cushions 29 shown in Fig. 13are secured to the projections 27 by means of an an? timony ring 31, andthe cushions 29" shown in Fig. 14 are formed thimble-like with anannular flange 32 fitting over the projection 27.

Referring to Fig. 15, wherein is disclosed a series of battery jars'similar to those shown in'Fig. 4, it will be seen that spacing members33 are provided between the jars of adjacent cells. These members 33comprise thin sheets preferablyof suitable acidresisting material, eachof the sheets being substantially equal in area to one side of the jar.Itis evident that whenit is desired to remove a cell it is merelynecessary to withdraw the individual sheets 33 thereby leavingsuflicient space around the jars to permit of its easy removal. Thesheets 33 being substantially one-fourth the total outside area of themetal sleeve 19, the friction between one of the sheets 33 and theadjacent side of the sleeve 19 is substantially one-fourth that of thefriction between the sleeve 19 and the adjacent jars. It is, of course,evident that, While I have shown the spacing members in connection withjars having the surrounding sleeves 19, they are also applicable to theother forms of jarsshown.

In Figs. 16 to 21, I disclose means for connecting the internal airpassages 17 of adjacent cells, so that ablast of air may be driventhrough one cell into another, and

- .passing along the adjacent sides of the jar.

. fromone end of the of battery jars to the other end.

It will be noted that the rubber ars. 12,

' as seen in Figs. 17 and 18, terminate'somewhat short of the tops ofthe metal jars 13, and-that the tops of the'rubber jars form seats upon.which suitable covers (not shown) are adapted to rest. As the coverseats: within the metal jar, the tops of the air channels and 17 areopen.

. At the top edge of each of the meta-lijars 13, and at each sidethereof, I provide blocks v or. castings 34, preferably of antimony andlead, the blocks being beveled at their ends, so as to make a closejoint with the blocks The blocks 34 are provided with a number ofdepending" legs or lugs arranged in 'staggered relation- The alternatelegs or lugs 35, which are preferably cored as shown in Fig. -18,'extendinto .the external channels 15 of the metal jar, while the legs or lugs36-protrude into the channels 17 between the rubber jar 12 and the metaljar 13, of the same cell. Passing through the legs 36' and opening'intothe side of the body of the block .34 are throughports 37. The blocks 34are so formed that when two cells provided with. the blocks are placedabutting each other, the legs 35' of the two adjacent blocks abut andthe ports 37 of' one block register with corresponding ports of theadjacent block as shown in Fig. 17.

I driven through a series of cells between the a As the sluices 28.formed in the bottomof the metal jar 13 are in alinement. with thevertical air passages or channels 17 and as the channels 17 of adjacentcells are in communication with each other by means of'the passages orports 37, it will be noted that, by means of a suitable blower, acontinuous current of air. can be passed or prevent thecell fromcollapsing.

In the drawings, the abutting blocks 34 on the tops of the adjacentcells are held together bymeans of bolts 39. It is, of course,

evident, that any suitable 'means may be provided betweenthe abuttingfacesof the blocks to. prevent'leakage therebetween, and

that, if preferred, instead of making. the abutting blocks of separatemembers, they may be integral, althoughthe form shown-is preferable, asit is less expensive and would expedite the withdrawal of the cells froma battery tank. j

My metal jars are generally adapted for use in storage battery work,andare particularly applicable to submarine work where, under the presentpractice, anumber of jars, usually sixty, are closely packed in astorage tank without adequate means of ventilation. They are alsoespecially adapted for use in electric motor vehicles and railroad carswhere at the present time no ventilating means is rovided, with theresult that hundreds of atteries are ruined daily owing to the riseintemperature caused by the heat generated during charging. Theymay alsobe advantageously usedfor mming or other locomotives, yacht lighting andpower, car lighting and for central station or other service. s I

It' is,'of course, understood that my invention is adaptable to variousmodifications and changes which would be within the spirit of myinvention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is,

1. In a battery, an inner jar, an outer jar,

and rib members between said jars to form air passages therebetween.

2. In a battery, an outer jar, an inner jar,

and rib members between said jars to form air passages therebetween, andmeans wherebythe air passages intercommunicate.

3. In a battery, an inner jar, and an outer jar having vertical airspaces extending throughout the height of the jar, and also havinghorizontal grooves whereby the air passages intercommunicate.

4. In a battery, an inner jar, an outer jar, and rib members between thewalls of the jars to form vertical air spaces therebetween,

said outer jar having horizontal grooves in 7 its walls, and grooves inits bottom whereby the vertical air passages intercommunicate.

5. In a battery, an inner jar of nonconducting acid resisting material,and an outer jar of suitable acid resisting properties about said innerjar for supporting the same, said outer jar being constructed to formair channels between the inner and outer jars.

6. In a battery, an inner jar of suitable nonconducting material, anouter jar of acid-resisting material, and rib members on the interior ofsaid outer jar against which the walls of the inner jar abut, said ribmembers having horizontal-grooves whereby the air channels formedbetween said rib members intercommunicate, and said outer jar havinggrooves in its bottom whereby the channels intercommunicate to allow forthe thorough ventilation of said battery.

7. In a battery, an inner jar of suitable nonconducting material anouter jar, internal ribs on said outer ar'having channels therebetween,the inner jar being adapted to abut against said ribs, external ribmembers upon said outer jar having air channels therebetween, theexternal ribs of one outer jar of one cell being adapted to abut againstcorresponding ribs of the outer jar of an adjacent cell.

8. In a battery, an inner jar of suitable nonconducting material, anouter jar of suitable acid resisting metal, rib members on theinterior'of said outer jar against which the inner ar abuts, said ribmembers having air channels therebetween, and rib members onthe exteriorof said metal jar and having air channels therebetween, and means forreinforcing said outer metal j ar.

9. In a battery, an inner jar of suitable nonconducting material, and anouter jar formed of corrugated metal whereby air passages are providedbetween the outer and inner jars of the same cell, and air passages areprovided between the outer jar of one cell and the outer jar of anabutting cell.

10. In a'storage battery, an inner jar of suitable nonconductingmaterial, and an outer jar of corrugated metal, and means forreinforcing-said outer jar.

'11. In a battery, an inner jar of suitable nonconducting material, anouter jar formed of'corrugated metal having the requisite acid resistingproperties, and strips passing horizontally about the inner walls ofsaid metal jar to reinforce the same.

12. In a battery, an inner jar of suitable nonconducting material, anouter jar of corrugated metal, a plurality of spaced-apart stripssecured to the interior of said metal jar for reinforcing the same andto support the inner jar, said strips being of suitable acid resistingmaterial.

13. In a storage battery, an innerjar of suitable nonconductingmaterial, and an outer jar of acid resisting material, corrugations inthe walls of said outer jar to provide air spaces between the outer jarand the inner jar of the same cell, said corrugations also providing airspaces between the outer jar of one cell and the outer jar of the nextabutting cell, strips on the interior of said outer jar for reinforcingthe same, and strips on the exterior of said outer jar for reinforcingthe same, the grain of said strips passing horizontally about said outerjar and at right angles to the grain thereto.

l-l. In a battery, an inner jar of suitable nonconducting material. anouter al of corrugated metal, a plurality of strips secured to the innerwalls of'said outer metal jar for reinforcing the same, and a stripsecured to the outside of the outer metal jar and extending throughoutits height for reinforcing the same. I,

15. In a storage battery, an inner jar of suitable nonconductingmaterial, an outer jar. of corrugated metal, and a perforated sheet orstrip secured to the interior of said metal jar for reinforcing the sameand for supporting the inner jar.

16. In a battery, an inner jar of suitable nonconducting material, andan outer jar of corrugated metal, andprojections on the bottom of saidouter metal jar upon which which the inner jar is adapted to rest.

17. In a battery, an inner jar of suitable nonconducting material, anouter jar, projections in the bottom of said outer jar, and

cushioning means on said projections on-- which the inner jar is adaptedto rest.

18. In a battery, an inner jar of suitable nonconducting material, andan outer corrugated jar of acid resisting material, projections in thebottom of said outer jar, and

shock absorbing cushions of elastic material upon said projections uponwhich the inner jar is adapted to seat whereby inequalities in theprojections, or inequalities in the bottom of the innerjar are taken up.

19. In a series of battery cells, each cell having an inner jar and anouterjar, spacedapart vertical rib members on the outside of said outerjars and between adjacent cells, and spaced-apart vertical rib memberson the inside of said outer jars whereby circulation spaces are providedbetween the outer jars of adjacent cells, and circulation spaces areprovided between the inner and outer 22. In a series of battery cells,each cell having an outer ar and 'an inner jar, spacedapart verticalribs members on the inside of said outer jar whereby circulation spacesare provided between the inner and outer jars of each cell, and meansconnecting said spaces of adjacent cells for passing a current of airthrough successive cells.

23. In a series of battery cells, each cell having an inner and outerjar, spaced-apart vertical rib members on the inside of said jar toprovide air circulating channels between the outer and inner jars, and ablock having legs with air ports therethrough, said legs being adaptedto extend into said air circulating channels with the air portsconnecting the air channels of adjacent cells.

24.- In a storage battery, an inner jar of suitable nonconductingmaterial, and an outer jar formed of corrugated metal whereby airpassages are provided between the 'outer and inner jars of the same celland air passages, said fi'rstadapted to register whereby the internalchannels of adjacent cells intercommunicate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM L. WALKER.

Witnesses:

M. R. PIERCE, R. A. Bone.

